Game



Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. ORDWAY, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PARKER BROS, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

I A GAME.

Application filed. April 8, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, FRANK L. ORDWAY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Games, of which the fol:

lowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar View, but with the top removed, so that the interior construction may be seen; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section upon the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The device of myinvention is capable of use in many relations which 'it is unnecessary to enumerate. As instancing two uses only for the device, it is pointed'out thati-t may be employed to indicate the number of spaces that pieces are to be moved in a 'board game, such, for example, as parchesi, and it may be employed in much the same way as a die box is used.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a closed receptacle is indicated at 1. It is of any desired shape, but is herein represented as triangular, since this form best adapts itself to the purpose of the device. The receptacle may be of any desired material, such, for example, as wood or pasteboard or metal. The said receptacle has desirably two compartments, namely, a wholly closed compartment 2 and a much smaller compartment 3, the latter having an observation element 4, such as glass, celluloid, or the like. Said two compartments 2, 3 are in communication by means of a passage 5 which permits the entrance of a single body only of the series of balls or other movable bodies 6. Preferably the bodies 6 are s herical, but the may be of any suitable s ape, provided t e can be readily moved and desirably rolled from the larger into the smaller compartment. The bodies 6 contrast with each other in any desired mannor, such, for example, as by differently ml- Serial No. 550,647.

oring them, thereby giving them different values. Thus, for example, if six balls be employed, they may be respectively colored red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. The compartment 2 is provided with a top 7 of opaquematerial, preferably forming a permanent or fixed part of the receptacle. The transparent cover 41 for the smaller opening is also desirably a fixed part of the receptacle.

Preferably the base 8 of the receptacle is inclined as indicated at 9 from the rear wall 10 toward the passage 5, so that when the device is placed flatwise upon the table,

the balls tend to roll toward the passage 5,

the diameter of the latter being such that only one of the balls can enter the smaller compartment and there be observed through the transparent cover 4.

In using the device, it is turned int upright position. that is, at a position at right angles to that indicated in the drawings and is given a shake in the same manner that a dice box is shaken. This causes the balls 6 to move aboutin the larger compartment 2, which is of sufficient size in all dimensions to permit this. The device is then turned into horizontal position, and preferably is laid flatwise upon the table where the game is being played. One of the balls 6 is thus caused to roll through the opening 5 into the smaller compartment 3 where it is observed through the transparent cover 4. The value of the ball which has rolled into the compartment 3 is noted byreason of its color or other distinguishing characteristic, and the proper move is accordingly made in tle game, or such ball is otherwise availed 0 Desirably at each side of the passage 5 there are inclined guides 11, 12, within the larger compartment 2, so as to direct the balls 6 toward the opening 5 and so as to prevent jamming or wedging of the balls at the opening.

Having thus described one lllustratlve embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. A move indicating or counting device for games comprising in oqmbination, a

closed receptacle having a' WaB to form a base; saidrec' eptaeler ceiRa" iii" a series of small movable pieces having di erent values, said reeeptacle-having a portion within the confines ofrsaid base iestiicfleillfi' o the reception of a single movable piece,'said portion provided with. an observation 0 em: ing into position beneath which the pieces may he moved singly by'blffiice? 2. A move indicating or counting device for gaines comprising' ln combination; a re ceptacle one Wall of which isiadapted to 'Forin'a base, said receptacle havii'ig a laigeicompartment closed from obervatmii-ane a? smaller compartment commiinie'at-ifig theT-f with and provided withan'olisi vatiofl open irig; a series of small movable bodfes witliirli said device and adapted aftef agftationmf' the device to move toward the smafler eoes partment into which only one can entefi atfa time and be" observed man e the seis observation opening.

3. A move indicating or counting device for games comprising '111 'combihationya re; ceptaicle incliidihg a base adaptedv 'to 'rest flat wise" upoifa support, a large and a'smell closed compartment upon and together fle fined by said base; asei'i'es' ofsnia'li movable objects within said receptacle andf'all of which are adapted 'to-bemece'ived at-one tifne in the larger 'com' artmenti hilt onl one ata time in the sin ller' compartm'en ahdf'restric'ting means ro iding' a pa sageior a single object from the larger-to the smaller compartment thej'lattr having a'window for the observation of the single object passing by chance into the smaller compartment;

4; A move indicatingor*coahtingfievice for games comprising in comlfi'n'atimi',' a Te ceptacle havinga 'wall 'ada tedto act; as a base, a relatively large clos d compZartmentr ment 3 having an observation cover 4 of 'ie rees eese eh eeee e between base acre-she gresttr peu ien nf tlie sides "of the tfi -sia e lawbcxz afifi e smallee com err mem- 3'atfthe epex bfthe triaiiglemi w hin' the con fihes nf said bessann edmnnniestiag witheneaaiger canipeesnematmgm re: stricted opening 5, said smaller compartment having mebeenvafiiqn waver 43mm a series of contrasting???"eoii ifed oaills6" iiri said bozig one ofilf'of vhlen at a tiine caweneer 'the comper't'rfieht 3 rd? observation.

'6? A nieve' indicatifi" haiiiii'g a*'cloed compartment Bend? a smaller compartment 3 in bommufiicatioritherewith tii i'oiigli a restricted open ifigia 'smailir coinpartznent haWing 'a trarisparemt cover; the bottom of the larger compartment' being indined tdwarrthe'eempartment B afid a series of small movable objects of coiiti asfiing values ada pted to? be agitated within the compartment 2 amt'eo roll toward =the com pastime 3 whenfthe dviceis placed flatwiaa" gamete this speeifiatione seams; ORDWAYa ofcoimtipg device for amescgmp'nsin nwcombmetion; ni he):

I have signed my 

